EVERTON’S midfield craftsman Mikel Arteta is hoping for a helping hand next season from Magaye Gueye.

Arteta has carried the responsibility for much of Everton’s creativity in and around the penalty area in recent seasons, but after the French youngster’s promising introduction to English football last season, Arteta hopes Gueye can now start to chip in, too.

“He looks good and he is the type of player you need as well,” said Arteta.

“We need players who can unlock the door sometimes.

“Magaye has got a really good shot, too.”

Gueye created goals in both Carling Cup and FA Cup run-outs last season, and came close to opening his goals account for the club in a couple of Premier League appearances towards the end of the campaign.

He was quickly off the mark in pre-season with two goals at Bury last Friday.

Arteta added: “There are still three weeks to go but we are all getting prepared very well.

“We are training hard and looking good.”

The Blues’ World Cup star, Johnny Heitinga, meanwhile, is hoping he can scale the heights at Goodison Park this season – after feeling the benefits of a ‘proper’ rest this summer.

The Dutch international, part of the Holland squad which reached the World Cup final last July, was back in action with the Blues barely 10 days after his season ended on such a low point when he was red-carded in the South African showpiece won by Spain.

But this summer Heitinga has reported back refreshed and raring to go.

In action in the early hours of this morning in Everton’s pre-season friendly against Philadelphia Union, Heitinga explained: “Last year was quite hard because I came back on the second of August but this time I can do the pre-season with my teammates and that is good for me and for the team.

“I had a longer holiday and as a football player after a long season you need a break and last year I only had ten days off. This year I’ve had four weeks off so it’s good for me.”

The versatile former Ajax man is with the rest of the Everton squad in Philadelphia and is looking forward to getting plenty of action in games against Philadelphia Union and DC United.

And he insists the word ‘friendly’ means nothing to him once out on the pitch.

“I am looking forward to the games,” he said.

“If we play a game, I always want to win.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly, a league match or a cup match, a club game or an international game.